ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's swimming & diving team returned to action inside the Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium and following the second day of the Bomber Invitational they remain in the lead totaling 1,165.5 team points. Behind them are Middlebury College (840.5), University of Rochester (717.5), Hamilton College (713.5) and Hartwick College (478)
A highlight occurred right away for the Bombers as they earned a split-second victory in the first event of the morning session, which was the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Matthew Mitros,
Michael Paulos,
Alec Kutsner and
James Collishaw teamed together as they won the race with a time of 1:23.12, compared to the Hamilton foursome who was in the same heat but they finished with a time of 1:23.89.
The Bombers would then see a second-place finish from sophomore
Matthew Janssen in the 400-yard IM as he finished the race in 4:10.95 behind Union's Bill Megas. Earning a fourth-place finish for IC was
James Kissel who recorded a time of 4:13.97.
Ithaca saw a trio of outstanding performances come in the 100-yard butterfly.
Matthew Mitros won his first individual event of the meet besting the competition by a time of 50.16 as teammate
Michael Paulos came in third with a recorded time of 50.59. Senior
James Collishaw continued to impress as this time he earned a sixth-place finish as he touched the final wall for a time of 50.99.
Swimmers would next compete in the 200-yard freestyle, which saw Hamilton's Nathaniel Taft win the event coming home with a time of 1:40.52. Earning valuable team points with his fifth-place result was
Ryan Cooke (1:44.23).
In the final event of the morning swimming session, IC relays once again showed their dominance this time around in the 400-yard medley relay as
Evan Wardrop,
Michael Paulos,
Joe Pezzini and
James Collishaw were over five seconds faster than the relay team from Alfred University. The Bombers put together a time of 3:24.25 to win the event compared to the Saxons 3:29.30.
The Bombers maintained its lead in the invite going into the afternoon 3-meter diving session with 784 points with Middlebury (535) in second followed by the University of Rochester (503.5). Afternoon diving would see the Bombers secure a one-two finish on the 1-meter boards earning more valuable team points.
Ethan Godfrey claimed victory totaling a finals score of 497.30 and right behind him with his 11-dive total was
Kian Long who scored a 453.60.
Ithaca saw an immediate first-place finish in the first event of the evening, the 200 butterfly.
Santiago Ludwig bested the field with a blazing time of 1:53.87 which was faster than the second place finisher from Middlebury. Also appearing in the top-five for IC was first year
James Kissel who was third with a season-best time of 1:54.27.
James Collishaw continued his strong meet with yet another individual victory, this time coming in the 100-yard backstroke. The senior swam his fastest time of the season to pace the field at 50.17 as also putting up a strong result was teammate
Evan Wardrop. The first year finished fourth overall with his time of 51.53.
Next up was the 100-yard breaststroke where the top finisher for the Bombers was
Michael Paulos who swam his way to a fourth-place finish. Paulos recorded a time of 58.24 as also finishing within the top-10 in eighth was
Joe Pezzini (59.33) and
Matthew Janssen (59.45) who was 10th overall.
In the final event of the evening, the 800-yard freestyle relay the Bombers took home third place as the foursome of
Ryan Cooke,
Matthew Janssen,
Ryan Pillion and
Santiago Ludwig combined for a time of 7:00.80. The winning time came from the Middlebury relay squad who produced a time of 6:56.62.
The Bombers are back in action tomorrow for the final day of competition of the 12th Annual Bomber Invitational. Swimming is slated to resume at 9 a.m. with the longest event, the 1,650 freestyle. That event will be followed by the 100-yard IM, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard freestyle relay.
